Virginia Independent Ethics Review Commission; established. (HB1947)

Introduced By

Progress

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Introduced

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Passed Committee

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Passed House

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Passed Senate

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Signed by Governor

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Became Law

Description

State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act and General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act; establishing the Virginia Independent Ethics Review Commission; penalty. Establishes the Virginia Independent Ethics Review Commission, a seven-member independent commission authorized to (i) prescribe, receive, and review all disclosure forms required by the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act, the General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act, and the lobbying laws; (ii) conduct annual audits of those disclosure forms; (iii) issue advisory opinions; (iv) grant waivers for certain travel and gifts; (v) investigate alleged violations of the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act, the General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act, and the lobbying laws; and (vi) refer certain violations to the appropriate authority for prosecution. The Commission replaces the current legislative Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council and the House of Delegates and Senate Ethics Advisory Panels. The bill prohibits any single gift or any combination of gifts with a value exceeding $100 to those persons subject to the Conflicts of Interests Acts and members of their immediate family from any single source in a calendar year, but exempts meals accepted as part of a widely attended event and travel-related gifts for which the Commission has granted a waiver. The bill removes the required disclosure forms from the Code, outlines the required information to be reported on the disclosure forms, and authorizes the Commission to prescribe the forms. The bill requires all disclosure forms be filed electronically with the Commission and permits the clerks of governing bodies to submit the disclosure forms on behalf of any local official. The bill also extends the current prohibition on political fundraising during regular sessions of the General Assembly to special sessions as well. Amends § 2.2-3101, § 2.2-3103, § 2.2-3104, § 2.2-3106, § 2.2-3114, § 2.2-3118, § 2.2-3121, § 2.2-3124, § 2.2-3131, § 2.2-419, § 2.2-426, § 2.2-431, § 2.2-433, § 24.2-954, § 30-101, § 30-103, § 30-110, § 30-111, § 30-123, § 30-124, § 30-126, § 30-127, of the Code of Virginia.Read the Bill »